Electric meter.



J. ViVELL.

ELECTRIC METER.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY 24 19:2. 1 156,827. Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

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Hi5; JTTTUHMEE J. VIVELL,

ELECTRIC METER. APPLICATlOh FILED MAY 24. 1912.

11,156,827. Patented 0m. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

fijs ATTUHAZEX,

UNITED @EFTGE.

JOSEPH VIVELL, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GENEREL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

. A. GQBPORATION OF NEW YORK..

ELECTRIC vide a meter which will accurately register the total time that the consumption of energy IS in excess of a certaln, predetermined quantity, and further to generally improve i the construction of meters of this type.

The present tariii rates for electric energy often necessitate a knowledge of the length of time the consumption of energy exceeds a predetermined or contract value. Devices for determining this length of time are not new, but their operation, as at present constructed, is more or less complicated by the use of special apparatus.

My invention aims to overcome the objcc tions to these older devices and to provide a meter which is simple in construction and accurate in operation.

The novel meter of my invention comprises in its complete form a diiierential gearing one wheel. cit which is connected to the revolving shaft of an electric motor meter and the opposite wheel of which is retated at a uniform rate, corresponding to the predetermined maximum consumption. The planetary member of the differential gearing is accordingly driven in one or the other direction according asthe energy consumption for the moment is above or below the predetermined value. When the energy consumption is above "this predetermined maximum, the shaft of the planetary member of the differential gearing is arrang d. to release a clockwork or other suitable whekeeping mechanism which at all other times is main ained locked. The clock then operates a register thereby registering the length of time the predetermined maximum consumption of energy was exceeded.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

- Application filed May 24, 1912. Serial No. 689,424.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference is to be hadcto the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the novel features of my invention as applied to a motor type meter; and Fig. 2 is a modiiication thereof in certain respects.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is represented diagrammatically a revolving shaft 1 of a motor meter. This shatt through its cooperation with gears 2 and 3 drives a shaft at and, by means of in termediate gearing, the gear member 5 of the differential gearing. The registering mechanism 6 is likewise driven through the shafts 1 and 4c and registers in the well known manner the total consumption of energy. The opposite gear wheel 7 of the differential gearing is rotated at a uniform speed by the shaft Sand intermediate gearing. The shaft 8 is represented in Fig. 1 as driven by a constant speed electric motorlii, but it is evident that any other means may be employed which will give to the shaft a uniform speed. T he shaft 8 is thus time-actuated and any suitable time-keeping mechanism be employed to drive the same. {T he planetary member 17 of the differential gearing is fastened to the shaft 9, and the latter operates through suitable gearing to rotate a disk 10 provided at regular intervals with incisions 11. A lever 13 is pivoted at and is provided at one end with a light spring member 24 which trails on the disk 10 and at its other end with a braking member ii. The braking member when. in contact with the escapement 15 of 'the clock mechanism 1,6 is adapted to hold the cscapement locked. The clock mechanism operates through suitable gearing a register 18 which records the length of time the clock runs.

The operation of my device, as shown in Fig. l, is follows: The gear member 7 oi the differential. gearing is rotated at a predetermined constant speed which corresponds to the tired contract value of energy consumption. Nhen the gear member 5 rotates at the same rate as gear member 7 the consumption of energy equals the predetermined value.

Under such circunr-q which is adapted to mesh witlra pinion practice and the planetary gear clock mechanism is now free to operate. and will register the length of time the consumpthe same speed but in opp main. stationary. Such a clrlaition is, how ever, rarely, it ever, actisa attain n.

fore, air-rays rotate in one direcinim or the other. It the consumption oi l ner-5. falls below the predetermined v gear member 5 will rotated a si-znvi'zr rat than gear member 7 and ph I, i; will impart to thedish 10 a rotation in direa tion shown by tho arrow. F nch a rotation of the disk will cause the lever .13 to assume the position shown in the drawing, and brake 14 will hold the escapemcnt of the clock locked. If the (:01 aniption of energy exceeds the predeternn value, the gear tion of energy is in excess of the predetermined value. lVhen the consumption ot energy falls below the predetermined value,

the lever 13 will again be operated upon so that the brake 14 will engage the escapement and lock the clock mechanism.

' In Fig. 2 of they drawings, l have shown aclock mechanism 19 for driving the gear member 7 of the differential gearing at a uniform rate. The clock. mechanism serves also to operate the register 18. In this figure, the gear member 7 is rotatechhy means of the shaft 21 which driven by the clock mechanism. The shaft carries a gear 22 23 fixed to a pivoted shaft 20. The shaft 20 drives the registering mechanism 13 in the well known manner. The lever 13 ispivoted at 12 and has one end in operative engagement with the shaft 20 and is provide (1 at its opposite end with a spring .24 which trails along the dish 10. 'lVlicn the consumption of energy is below the predetermined maximum, the disk 10 will rotate in the direction shown by the arrow and the spring 24: will. turn the lever so as to hold gears 22and 23 out of engagement. When the consumption of energy exceeds the predetermined contract amount. spring 24: will engage in one of the incisions oi? the dish and will turn lever l3 so as to throw gears 22 and 523 in mesh and thus place in operation the re isiicr The length of time that the cmisninption 4 cod pi ootermined ma" tered on the v-d maxinmm, the disk will be rotated lirection of the arrow and gears 22 will he di llnile l have illustrated in the accompanyi tlrrrwi. a meter-register of a well lane n type for registering the length of time "the meter ng of energy exceeds the pre- (let rznii 2" value, it will, of course he nnderstood Lit-ll; any suitable means may he employed'to obtain tl e desired registration. in the appended cl aims .i have used the term registering in its generic sense with the "cation oit" covering any of the well. known 3 of registrations.

'hat I claim as new and desire to secure go A s Patentof the United States, is-

l. l he coin lat-ion with an electric meter having a rotatable shaft, of a time-keeping mechanism. a register operatively related to said mecl'ianisrn. means for locking said time-keeping mechanism to prevent its operation. and means for unlocking said timekeeping mechanism when the speed of rotation of said shaft exceeds a predetermined value whereby a registration is obtained upon said register of the total length of l time the rate of metering of electric energy exceeded said predetermined value.

2. The combination with an electric meter- 1 ins; mechanism, of a time-keeping 1nechanism, a register operatively related to said timekeeping mechanism and adapted to register the. length of time said time-keeping mechanism operates, means normally locking said time-keeping mechanism to 1 0 prevent its operation, and means for unlocking said time-keeping mechanism when the rate of metering of electric energy exceeds a predetermined value.

3. The combination with a timekeeping 1 mechanism. of means responsive to the rate 1' of consumption oi electric energy in an electrical installation. register operatively related to said tie roping mechanism and ailalnied to re tin1eheepi n32; tor lockinff sa i prevent its related to rmanism operates, means,

fine-keeping mechanism to in. and means operatively rst mentioned means andincluding a a l :rtntial gearing for unlock-: ins said time sping' mechanism when the.

rate of consun'iption of electric energy eX- ceeds a predetermined value.

The combination with a time-keeping mechanism, of a register operatively re-. lated thereto and adapted to register the length of time said mechanism operates, means responsive to the rate of consumption of electric energy in. an electrical installation, means for normally preventing the operation of saidtimekeeping mechanism, and means operatively related to Said 'firSt mentioned means for permitting said time- 1 "int: mechanism to operate when the in. consumption of electric energy exceeds a predetermined value whereby the total length of time that the rate of consumption of electric energy exceeded said .keeping mechanism, and means including a time actuated member iodperating with the rotatable shaft of said meter and adapted to permit the operation of saldtime-keep-mg mechanism when the speed of rotation of said shaft exceeds av predetermined value 'Whereby the total length of time that the rate of metering (if-electric energy exceeded said predetermined value is registered on said register. 6. The combination with an electric metering mechanism, of a time-keeping mechanism, a register adapted to be operated by said time-keeping mechanism, and means operatively related to said electric metering mechanism and including a differential gearing having a time-actuated member for 0 causing said time-keeping mechanism to operat'e said register when the rate of metering of electric energy exceeds a predetermined value whereby the total length of time that the rate of metering of electric energy exceeded said predetermined value 1s registered on said register. I

7. The combination with a time-keeping mechanism, of a register operatively related thereto and adapted to be operated thereby, means responsive to the rate of consumption of electric energy-in'an electrical'installation, means whereby "the operation of-said register by said timeekeeping mechanism is normally prevented, and means operatively related to said first mentioned means and in eluding a differential gearing having a timeactuated member for causing'fsaid time-keeping mechanism to operate said register when the rate Ff consumption of electric energy said gear members from said shaft, means for driving the other of said gear members 'at a uniform speed, and means for registering the length of time the speed of the meter driven gear member exceeds the speed of the other gear member.

9. The combination with the rotatable shaft of an electric meter, of a differential gearing comprising two gear membersand a planetary gear, means for driving one of said gear members from said shaft, means for driving the other of said gear members at a constant speed, a rotatable disk in operative relation with said planetary gear, and means for registering the total duration of time the disk rotates in one direction.

'10. The combination with the rotatable shaft of an electric meter,'of a differential gearing comprising two gearfmem members and a planetary gear, means for driving-one of said gear members from time said clockwork mechanism is held unlockedi Inwitness whereof, I have hereunto set m hand this first day of May, 1912,

JOSEPH VIVELL. Witnesses:

MAX HELM, HENRY HASPER.

SO said shaft, means for driving the other of 

